Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Automotive Engineering Technicians

Typical education: Associate degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $74,510 Median per year · $35.82/hr Most earn $48,400–$106,050

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
  • Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
  • Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems.
  • Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
  • Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
  • Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 3,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Engineering services16.8%
  • Machinery manufacturing10.2%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences7.4%
  • Motor vehicle parts manufacturing5.0%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing4.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Automotive Engineering Technician is usually not a straight-out-of-school job. Most people earn an associate degree and then spend about 2 to 4 years in related hands-on work before taking this role, so plan on roughly 4 to 6 years after high school.

  1. High school diploma with math, science, and shop or drafting classes

    4 years

    Strong math and science skills and hands-on shop or drafting classes build the foundation you need for a technical associate degree.

  2. Associate degree in mechanical or automotive engineering technology

    2 years

    A two-year program teaches testing methods, measurement, CAD basics, and how engines and vehicle systems work.

  3. Mechanical Engineering Technician

    2-4 years

    Working as a technician under engineers lets you run tests, collect data, and build real experience with test equipment and product design changes.

  4. Automotive Engineering Technician

    Ongoing

    You help engineers judge whether proposed vehicle design changes are practical, then plan and run tests on experimental parts for performance, durability, and efficiency.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Test Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex test plans, mentor newer technicians, and often handle the equipment and data for bigger projects.

  2. Test Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from running tests to designing them and deciding what the results mean; job ads for this role often ask for a bachelor's degree, so check the requirements you're targeting.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, physics, and shop or drafting classesThese classes build the skills you'll use for measuring, testing, and reading technical drawings.
  • Join a robotics, automotive, or STEM clubBuilding and testing a project with a team shows you how engineering work really happens.
  • Work on cars with a family member or at a local garageHands-on experience with engines and vehicle systems gives you a real feel for the work.
  • Enter a science fair or engineering design competitionDesigning, testing, and explaining results builds the same habits this career depends on.

In college

  • Enroll in an automotive or mechanical engineering technology associate programThis is the most common education route for this career and teaches testing, measurement, and vehicle systems.
  • Take a CAD and data analysis courseDesign software and spreadsheet or data skills are used daily when testing and reporting on vehicle parts.
  • Get a part-time job or internship at a dealership, test lab, or parts manufacturerReal work experience counts toward the 2 to 4 years employers often expect before this role.
  • Join a student engineering or automotive clubTeam projects, such as building a race car or vehicle prototype, show employers you can test and improve a design.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time or summer work at an auto shop, dealership, parts supplier, or testing lab. Hands-on experience with real vehicles is what employers look for.
  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets and basic data analysis. Testing work means recording results and explaining what they show.
  • Ask a local technician or engineer for a short informational chat. Their advice on day-to-day work can help you decide if this path fits you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers